37 dead, dozens of children missing after tragic mall blaze in Russia’s Kemerovo

As rescuers continue to search the burned-out shopping mall in the city of Kemerovo, many have been frantically trying to reach their relatives, including children who were in the mall’s cinema or play area when the fire started.

Some 37 people were killed in the blaze, the Russian Investigative Committee has confirmed. At least 11 children were among the victims.

Amid conflicting reports, some have described the source of the fire as the children’s playground, suggesting that the trampoline there caught fire after a child allegedly misused a lighter. Another version suggests that electrical wiring at the playground had short-circuited.